Germany based and Hamburg-headquartered SAL Heavy Lift GmbH & Co. KG (SAL), being part of Bremen shipowner Harren Group, has announced that its new generation fleet of ultra-efficient heavy-lift vessels, the Orca Class, has reached five vessels with a new order signed.
The SAL Managing Director Capt. Sebastian Westphal and Zhang Zhao, the President of Wuhu Shipyard in China, have signed the contract for the fifth Orca Class vessel at the Marintec Exhibition held in Shanghai, China.
The Orca Class are 14.600 dwt heavy-lift vessels with two electric cranes of 800 mt lifting capacity, Ice-class A1 with duel-fuel methanol ready engine and ship to shore power connection, giving low emissions for a greener and more sustainable maritime future, as the company says.
The latest Orca vessel ordered will be named MV Vera, after Capt. Westphal’s wife, with scheduled delivery mid-2025.
Furthermore, the keel laying ceremony of MV Frida, the second Orca Class vessel, took place on December 8 at Wuhu Shipyard, in China.
SAL notes that the five Orca types are all part of a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport, to promote sustainability, and emission reduction in the maritime industry.
